Gun



G. M. BARNES Jan. 5, 1937.

GUN

ZSheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1954 Invantnr Eladamn M E1armas Jan. 5, 1937.

G. M. BARNES 2,066,319

GUN

Filed Jan. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Gladecm. M-Earne5 Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a gun in which a brake mechanism utilizes the compressive action and reaction of the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery.

The improvements are directed to a novel means for varying the length of recoil of the gun by changing the volume of the brake system. Auxiliary chambers are selectively included in or excluded from the system as the gun is moved in depression or elevation.

A novel method of lubrication is provided in which the lubricant is forced out of its container under the influence of inertia forces produced through firing the gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of a valve which is held open by inertia as the gun moves in recoil.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the front part of the gun.

Fig. 1 is a continuation of Fig. 1, showing the rear portion of the gun partly in section and partly in elevation.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views on the respective lines of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 1 there is shown a gun barrel 5 reciprocally mounted in a cradle 6 having trunnions I at its rear end whereby it is supported for movement in elevation on a carriage 8.

Secured to the muzzle of the gun barrel is a combined brake and gas collector including a casing 9 spaced radially from the end portion of the barrel and carrying baffles I0, for deflecting gases rearwardly. A valve block I l integral with the casing 9 is provided with a pair of inlet passages I2-I2 establishing fluid communication between the casing 9 and a recoil cylinder l3 secured at its forward end to the block II.

The inlet passages are similar and each one includes an offset portion l4 and a valve seat l5. A valve having its stem 16 slidably mounted in the block II is arranged with its head l1 forwardly of the valve seat l5 so that on recoil movement of the gun the force of inertia will tend to maintain the valve in the open position. The valve is normally held in the open position by means of a spring l8 confined between a nut I9 on the valve stem and a seat 20 which is formed by a flange on a tube 2| threadedly attached to the valve block. The valve stem I6 is provided with a number of grooves 22.

A lubricant container 23 carried on the rear side of the valve block is in communication with u an upwardly inclined passage 24 in the block which leads to the valve stem. Upon recoil movement of the gun the lubricant under the influence of inertia is forced through the passage 24 and into the grooves 22 of the valve stem, and in addition to lubricating the stem serves as a seal to prevent leakage of gas flowing from the gun to the recoil cylinder. When the gun is at rest the lubricant drains back into its container. In the case of a 3 inch gun, a pound of oil confined in a cylinder having a cross-sectional area of one inch produces a pressure when the gun is fired of about 100 pounds per square inch.

The recoil cylinder l3 movable with the gun barrel, cooperates with a piston head 25 on a hollow piston rod 26 fixed to the cradle 6. On the rear end of the recoil cylinder is an annular lubricant container 21 embracing the piston rod. The front end of the container is formed of an adapter 28 by means of which the container is attached to the recoil cylinder while the rear end is formed by a ring 29. The container has a fluid tight and sliding fit on the piston rod and to this end packings 30--3l held in place by glands 32 and 33 are interposed respectively between the front and rear ends of the container and the piston rod. A passage 34 in the adapter 28 serves as an inlet and outlet for the lubricant, enabling it to be forced out of the container by inertia to lubricate the contacting surfaces of the piston and recoil cylinder and to be returned to the container by the action of the piston head during counterrecoil of the recoil cylinder. The lubricant also finds its way to grooves 35 in the piston head where it serves as 68- provided internally: on a shaft 69.

a gas seal. A filling aperture 36 and a draining aperture 31 are respectively provided in the up per and lower portions of the container.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the piston head 25 is hollow and includes a sleeve 38 of reduced diameter on its. forward end. A valve 39 slidably mounted in the, sleeve by means of guides M) has a head 4| oniits rear end for engaging a1valve seat 42 on the rear end of the sleeve. A crosspiece 43 in the piston head serves to limit rearward movement of the valve. formed with a longitudinal passage 44 and a communicating radial passage 45 positioned in rear of the valve head 4|.

vided with a passage 41 dimensioned to control the rate of exhaust of the gases and therefore cylinders 48 and-49 are connected .by a valve block 53. V

The rear end-ofthe inner cylinder 48 is provided with aipair of ports 54-54 which are" in communication withpassage 5555 formed in the valve block and leading to the chambers 5|52-. Eachpassage 555 is formed with a valve seat" 581 The passage'55 leading to'the. chamber 51 maybeclosedby a short valve 51 and the passageleadi ng to the chamber 52 maybe closed by a long valve 58. The valves 51' and 58 are identical except as to their length and are provided respectively with pistons 59 and 6|]; The piston- 59worksina chamber-'61 and'the piston 60'works in a chamber 62.

The valve block is provided' with anaxial ,pas sage 63 in whicha slidably mountedvalve G l-is constrained against rotation by means-c'of aipin or shoeriding in a groovezfiB: in" the valve block. The rear end-of the valve-64 is provided externally with threads 61 "engaging-"with threads The shaft is mounted fo-rrotation in a bearing consisting of'an end plate 'HIifor the valve "block and-xa gland "H secured "to the end plate. Theshaft is held'against axial displacement by meansof a flange 12 confined .betweenthe end :plate and gland; A gear-wheel I3 on the outer end of the shaft is driven bytgearing. 14-meshing with an arcuate'rack 155fixedto the carriage 8-so' that asthe cradle 6':is.'elevated :or depressed the shaft will be rotated to translate .the -valve;;64.

Thezvalve .64 is formed with anaxial. passage '15 and-has a radial/port 1"! leading therefrom to an annular chamber '18 provided by necking the: valve.

The passage 63" in the valve block is in comm unication with the chamber fil by means of ports-:19 and F 85 the 'former beingpositionedfor- .vizardlys of" the piston '59 and the latter: positioned :rearwardly thereof. The-passage 63 is also in communication with-the chamber 62 by means ofaports '8 I ?and 82 positioned respectively'in front :ofandwin' rear of the-piston 60. The corresponding :ports 15.8.| and-"f82 onopposite-sides of the passenge -63 are spaced'from each other'lonigitudinallyrwithrespectto theyvalve 64 so-that they--areesuccessivelycovered and. uncovered by thezevalve :6 4.

The valve is A plug 45 in thefront end of the longitudinal passage 44 is pro-- The valves 5'! and 58 are normally maintained in their forward position against the valve seats 55 in order to close the passages 55 relative to the ports 54.

The means for closing the valves 5! and 58 are identical. Each of the valves includes a rod 83 on its rear end passing through a plug 84 threaded in the valve block 53 and'closing the valve chamber. A tubular extension 85 on the plug 84 houses and seats a spring 86 that acts on a head 8'! on the rear end of the rod 83.

When the valves 5'! and 58 are closed the pistons 59 and 60 are directly in rear of the respective ports 19 and 8|. When the valve 64 is in its .rearmost position uncovering both of the ports 19' and 8| as seen in Fig. 5 the pressure fluid or gas in the system flows through the ports 19 and 8| and acting on the pistons forces the valves 51 and 58to the rear or open position. The chambers 5| and 52 are now in communicationwith the---cylinder'-48 of the-piston rod and the volume of the system is-*at a maximum. In this adjustment of the valves the gun barrel which is at zero elevation has its greatest length oflrecoil.

When-the valve 64 is in its foremost position indicated-by the "dotted line in Fig. 5, it covers both of the ports 19 and 8|. The pressure fluid or gas flowing through'the axial passage 16 in the valve 64, the port 17, chamber 18, and ports 80 and 82, enters the chambers 6| and 62 in rear of the pistons 59 and 60 and holds the valves 57 and 58 in the closedposition. In this position of adjustment with both of the chambers 5| and 52 closed off the volume of the system is at a minimum and the gun barrel will have a short length of recoil.

When the valve 64 is in an intermediate position'the chamber.5-|-;will be open and the chamber 52 will be closed.

The variation in the voltune of the system is dependent on the adjustment of the valve 65 which is-controlled through the gearing ES- i l as the gunis moved inelevation or depression. While in the present instance the volume of the system and the corresponding length of recoil has been divided into three parts or steps, it is readily apparent that the chambers 5| and 52 may be sub-divided and additional valves provided.

When the gun is fired, a portion of the rapidly expanding gases of discharge are deflected by the bafiles l8 and delivered past the valves |i5|'| to the recoil cylinder l3. A part of the energy of recoil of the gun barrel is'counteracted by the forward pressure exerted on the vanes. The gases delivered to the cylinder l3 open the valve 39 in the piston head and flow into the piston rod and-then act to open the valves 5'! and 58 or hold them in closed position dependingon the adjustment of the valve '64.

When the pressure in the cylinder I3 and. piston rod 26' 48'eXceeds the rapidly decreasing pressure in the bore of the gun the valves Iii-l1 are closed. The gases confined in the cylinder and piston rod will be compressed as the forward end-.of'thecylinder approaches the stationary piston head and will act to yieldingly check the recoil of the gun and then react to move the gun in counterrecoil.

During the counterrecoil stroke of the gun and cylinder IS, the volume of the cylinder is increasing and the pressure therein is correspondingly decreasing so that it is less than the pressure 'inirear'of the piston head. As a consequence the gases flow forwardly, close the valve 38 in the piston head and taking the path through the passages 45-45-41 in the valve act on the front inder, a cylinder on the rear end of the piston and radially spaced therefrom, a partition dividing the space to provide a plurality of chambers, a fluid passage between the piston and each chamber, a valve normally closing each passage and having a piston, ports for conducting gases to the front and rear of the piston of each valve, corresponding ports being longitudinally spaced, a control valve for successively covering and uncovering said ports, and means operable on elevation of the cradle for positioning the control valve.

- 2. In a gun, a support, a cradle trunnioned on the support, a gun reciprocally mounted on the cradle, a recoil mechanism utilizing the compressive action and reaction of the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery and including a recoil cylinder movable with the gun and a hollow piston fixed to the cradle and in communication with the recoil cylinder, a cylinder on the rear end of the piston and radially spaced therefrom, a partition dividing the space to provide a plurality of chambers, a fluid passage between the piston and each chamber, a valve normally closing each passage and having a piston, ports for conducting gases to the front and rear of the piston of each valve. corresponding ports being longitudinally spaced, a control valve for successively covering and un covering said ports.

3. In a gun, a support, a cradle trunnioned on the support, a gun reciprocally mounted on the cradle, a recoil mechanism utilizing the cornpressive action and reaction of the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery and including a recoil cylinder movable with the gun and a hollow piston fixed to the cradle and in communication with the recoil cylinder, a cylinder on the rear end of the piston and radially spaced therefrom, a partition dividing the space to provide a plurality of chambers, a fluid passage between the piston and each chamber, and means adjusted upon elevation of the cradle for selectively controlling the opening and closing of the fluid passages to the chambers.

4. In a gun, a support, a cardle trunnioned on the support, a gun reciprocally mounted on the cradle, a recoil mechanism utilizing the compressive action and reaction of the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery and including a recoil cylinder movable with the gun and a hollow piston fixed to the cradle and in communication with the recoil cylinder, a cylinder on the rear end of the piston and radially spaced therefrom, a partition dividing the space to provide a plurality of chambers, a fluid passage between the piston and each chamber, and means for selectively controlling the opening and closing of the fluid passages to the chambers.

5. In a gun, a support, a cradle trunnioned on the support, a gun reciprocally mounted on the cradle, a recoil mechanism utilizing the compressive action and reaction of the gases of dis charge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery and including a recoil cylinder movable with the gun and a hollow piston fixed to the cradle and in communication with the recoil cylinder, auxiliary chambers at the rear of the piston, a fluid passage between the piston and each chamber, a valve normally closing each passage and having a piston, ports for conducting gases to the front and rear of the piston of each valve, corresponding ports being longitudinally spaced, a control valve for successively covering and uncovering said ports, and means operable on elevation of the cradle for positioning the control valve.

6. In a gun, a support, a cradle trunnioned on the support, a gun reciprocally mounted on the cradle, a recoil mechanism utilizing the compressive action and reaction of the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery and including a recoil cylinder movable with the gun and a hollow piston fixed to the cradle and in communication with the recoil cylinder, auxiliary chambers at the rear of the piston, a fluid passage between the piston and each chamber, a valve normally closing each passage and having a piston, ports for conducting gases to the front and rear of the piston of each valve, corresponding ports being longitudinally spaced, a control valve for successively covering and uncovering said ports.

7. In a gun, a support, a cradle trunnioned on the support, a gun reciprocally mounted on the cradle, a recoil mechanism utilizing the compressive action and reaction of the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery and including a recoil cylinder movable with the gun and a hollow piston fixed to the cradle and in communication with the recoil cylinder, auxiliary chambers at the rear of the piston, a fluid passage between the piston and each chamber, and means adjusted upon elevation of the cradle for selectively controlling the opening and closing of the fluid passages to the chambers.

8. In a gun, a support, a cradle trunnioned on the support, a gun reciprocally mounted on the cradle, a recoil mechanism utilizing the compressive action and reaction of the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery and including a recoil cylinder movable with the gun and a hollow piston fixed to the cradle and in communication with the recoil cylinder, auxiliary chambers at the rear of the piston, a fluid passage between the piston and each chamber, and means for selectively controlling the opening and closing of the fluid passages to the chambers.

9. In a gun, a recoil system including a primary pressure fluid chamber, auxiliary pressure fluid chambers for increasing the volume of the system, fluid passages between the primary and each of the auxiliary chambers, and means adjusted upon elevation of the gun for selectively controlling the opening and closing of the fluid passages to the auxiliary chambers.

10. In a gun, a recoil system including a primary pressure fluid chamber, auxiliary pressure fluid chambers for increasing the volume of the system, fluid passages between the primary and til) each of' the auxiliary chambers,. and;.means for selectively controlling the opening and closing of the fluid passages to the auxiliary chambers.

11. In a gun, a reciprocally mounted gun barrel, a brake mechanism for the barrel, a gas passage establishing communication between the gun barrel and brake mechanism, a valve for opening and closing the passage and mounted for sliding movement substantially parallel to the axis of reciprocation of the barrel, said valve having forward movement in opening the passage whereby the force of inertia tends to open 5 the valve upon recoil of the gun barrel.

GLADEON M. BARNES. 

